Portland Local News

Head keeper at Wildcat Haven killed

The woman killed Saturday night by a big cat at Wildcat Haven in Sherwood was 36-year-old Renne Radziwon-Chapman. She was the head keeper at the facility and worked there for eight years.

In a statement, the owners say it appears Radziwon-Chapman was alone in the enclosure with the big cat when she was attacked. That's against policy which requires two staff members when animals are locked out or released.

Investigators are trying to determine why she was alone.

Here's the statement from Wildcat Haven:

WildCat Haven Sanctuary mourns the loss of its head keeper at the sanctuary in Sherwood, Oregon.

“Right now, our thoughts and prayers are with the family of our dear colleague and friend who wehave so sadly lost,” said Executive Director Cheryl Tuller. “We are devastated by this loss. Not onlywas she one of our most dedicated staff members, we thought of her as family. We send our mostheartfelt prayers to those she has left behind.” Renee Radziwon-Chapman was the head keeper at thesanctuary for eight years and a certified vet tech.

WildCat Haven has strict safety protocols to ensure the wellbeing of everyone working at the sanctuaryand all the sanctuary’s neighbors. The sanctuary’s handbook specifies that “two qualified staff membersshall work together during the lock out of dangerous animals. Once the animals are locked out, onestaff member can safely enter the enclosure to clean or make repairs. Two qualified staff members shallbe available when releasing animals from lockout areas.” At this time, it is believed that Radziwon-Chapman was alone at the sanctuary and alone in the enclosure with cats, who had not been shiftedinto the lockout area. Investigation is ongoing.

“At no time was any cat outside its primary containment enclosure,” said Tuller. The enclosures aresurrounded on all sides by 14-foot tall walls of six-gauge wire, with secure ceilings, lockout areas, anddouble-door entries. Larger enclosures are also surrounded by four-foot concrete walkways. Theenclosures exceed what is required by the USDA, which inspects the facility yearly.

WildCat Haven is a 501(c)3 non-profit, no-kill, “last hope” sanctuary located in Sherwood, Oregon.Its mission is to provide a safe, natural, lifetime home for captive-born wildcats in need. It has earnedverification and accreditation from both The Global Federation of American Sanctuaries (GFAS) and

The American Sanctuary Association (ASA). WildCat Haven is not open to the public; nor does it buysell, breed, or exhibit animals. The sanctuary receives no state or federal funding, relying on fund-raisingand generous donors and sponsors.